Page 5 of Carpenter's Christmas Bride

As she did her best to hustle for the door, a familiar face peeked out from inside and lit up.

“MacKenzie Forrest,” Lucy Webb called out happily. “Hang on, let me help you.”

“Lucy,” Kenzie said, smiling as her friend came out and grabbed her other crutch out of the cart.

Lucy was wearing a Co-op shirt. Kenzie knew that Lucy had gotten a job here in high school, but hadn’t realized she was still working at the grocery store now.

“Here you go,” Lucy said, handing her the crutch. “You need both of these. I’ll push the cart and grab your stuff for you.”

“Are you on break or something?” Kenzie asked worriedly.

“Nah,” Lucy said. “But it’s my job to take care of customers, so taking care of you is definitely what I’m on the clock for.”

“Why do I feel like you have a great boss?” Kenzie asked.

“Because I do,” Lucy said with a serious expression. “And I think I might just be taking his place when he retires.”

“Congratulations,” Kenzie told her, meaning it. Her own recent promotion to principal dancer had meant the world to her, even if she’d only been able to enjoy it for a short time.

“Thanks,” Lucy said. “I’ll miss the busy nights and weekends, but the hours will be better for my daughter.”

“Your daughter?” Kenzie echoed, amazed.

“She’s the light of my life,” Lucy said with a smile. “Next time I bump into you when I’m actually on break, I’ll overwhelm you with photos.”

Kenzie let Lucy lead the way inside with the cart while she followed on her crutches.

“Oh, wow,” she said, looking around.

“Yeah, we’ve made some improvements since the last time you were home,” Lucy said proudly. “My personal favorite is the café area by the windows, but the local artisans’ section is pretty cool too.”

Kenzie had noticed the big, beautiful window out front but hadn’t seen all the tables set up near it. Even this early on a weekday morning, a few of the tables were filled.

Three of the town’s VIPs, Betty Ann Eustace, Shirley Ludd, and Ginny Davies, sat at the best table, talking, sipping coffee, and picking at a plate of danishes. It seemed to her that the three retired women had always been responsible for organizing most of the wonderful events and fundraisers that happened in town. For all Kenzie knew, they were planning another one right now.

“MacKenzie Forrest,” Betty Ann called in her warmest, most regal tone.

“Go on,” Lucy told her. “I’ll follow.”

Kenzie headed over, trying not to bump anyone. It was strange taking up so much space with the crutches.

“Hello, Mrs. Eustace,” she said when she arrived. “And Mrs. Ludd and Mrs. Davies.”

“You’re quick on those things, young lady,” Betty Ann said, indicating the crutches with her eyebrows raised slightly. “We were all very sorry to hear of your injury.”

“Oh, thank you,” Kenzie said, feeling a little starstruck that the matriarchs of Trinity Falls had followed her career in any way.

“Will you be helping out at your grandmother’s place?” Shirley asked hopefully. “When you’re feeling better?”

“For now, I just have to heal up,” Kenzie said. “Then I can figure out what’s next. But I’ll definitely be there to visit.”

The three ladies nodded approvingly.

“Well, we won’t keep you unnecessarily on your feet, dear,” Betty Ann told her. “But if you get restless around the house, you’re welcome to help out with the raffle or the town newsletter we’re thinking of starting.”

“Yes, we always have plenty of things you can keep busy with sitting down,” Ginny told her with a friendly wink.

“And we’d love your company, dear,” Shirley told her. “You can tell us what it was like to perform in New York City.”

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